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Israel’s Naftali Bennett opts for ousting Netanyahu

Yamina leader Naftali Bennett announced yesterday that he intends to join Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to form a government of change that will end the yearslong rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Israeli right-wing Yamina party, blows kisses as he greets supporters at his party's campaign headquarters after the end of voting in the fourth national election in two years, Tel Aviv, Israel, March 24, 2021.
Naftali Bennett, leader of the Israeli right-wing Yamina party, blows kisses as he greets supporters at his party's campaign headquarters after the end of voting in the fourth national election in two years, Tel Aviv, Israel, March 24, 2021. — Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images

Capping weeks of speculations and rumors, Yamina leader Naftali Bennett announced yesterday in a televised address that he intends to join Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to form a coalition. If indeed established, such a coalition would end more than two years of political deadlock, ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 consecutive years in power.

“The elections have proven there is no right-wing government under Netanyahu. There is unity or fifth elections. Netanyahu knows it well,” said Bennett. He then warned that the four election campaigns Israel has gone through in the past two years had caused the country to lose its ability to function. The country's leadership is "showing hate and divisions to cover up failures," he noted.

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